# NTSB NYC02LA107: Karl & Dot Comp Air 7SL, N753KD, Cross Keys, NJ, June 1, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 2002, 07:00 local (11:00 UTC) - Place: Cross Keys, NJ - Coordinates: 40.299648, -74.521781 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2996&lon=-74.5218&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54819 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54819/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54819 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA107 ## Probable cause Fatigue fracture of the tail wheel spring, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with a ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - fractured (cause) - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - fatigue (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis During a landing rollout, the homebuilt airplane's tailwheel spring fractured, and the assembly jammed the rudder. The airplane veered off the runway and came to rest in a drainage ditch. The main landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage and wings were damaged. Previous damage, including beach marks and rust, were found on the spring's fracture surfaces. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 2002, about 0700 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Comp Air 7SL, N753KD, was substantially damaged during a landing rollout at Cross Keys Airport (17N), Cross Keys, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot, two pilot-rated passengers, and one additional passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, from Old Mans Airport (7N7), Pedricktown, New Jersey. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that during the landing rollout on runway 27, the "tail wheel broke." It then jammed into the rudder and elevator, "which caused [us] to lose our steering and control of the airplane." One of the pilot-rated passengers stated that the "tail wheel broke and flipped up between the elevator, jamming the rudder and causing the aircraft to skid." The airplane subsequently swerved off the right side of the runway, and came to rest in a drainage ditch. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the tailwheel spring fractured and jammed the rudder. The airplane veered off the runway, the main landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage and wings were damaged. Examination of the spring revealed previous damage, including beach marks and rust on the fracture surfaces. ## Aircraft - Registration: N753KD (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Karl & Dot, Inc. Comp Air 7SL - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 017257SL - Airframe hours: 115 - Engines: Walter 610D 650 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Karl O. Baker - Registered owner: Karl and Dot, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 17, 2001, 115 hours before - Departed: 7N7, PEDRICKTOWN, NJ - Destination: 17N, Cross Keys, NJ - Airport: 17N, Cross Keys Airport, runway 27, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 9, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,830 total, 93 in this make and model, 1,573 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: PHL, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020601018199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020601018199A), Jun 1, 2002: Amtr CA7SL, Cross Keys, NJ, No damage. (-23) During landing tail wheel spring broke and jammed rudder. Aircraft veered which caused main gear to collapse causing damage to the fuselage, wings and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54819. 535 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 264 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442868&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442554&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 3, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442555&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 4, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442556&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.